What is the IRB?

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Human Subjects Research at Kettering University has responsibility to oversee procedures for carrying out the University's commitment to protect human subjects in research. The role of the IRB is to review proposed research projects that involve the use of human subjects; ensure that the individuals involved in the project are treated ethically; ensure that all subjects are provided with substantial information about the study and consent to be a subject in the study; and that all private information will be handled with confidentiality. The IRB is authorized to review, approve, require modifications, or disapprove research activities conducted by or through the University using human subjects.

Research is defined in federal regulations as "a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge".

Human subjects are defined by federal regulations as "living individual(s) about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with an individual, or (2) identifiable private information".

Important Facts and Rules to Follow:

Any sponsored or non-sponsored research involving human subjects at Kettering University must be reviewed by the University's IRB.

The principal investigator must first determine the type of review required and submit the appropriate form(s) to the IRB.

Only the IRB can determine if the research is exempt.

The principal investigators of research projects, even those which are exempt from full IRB review, still must comply with the requirement for informed consent.